Dream Big ’18 • Attendee Info

The Dream Big Conference, held every three years, brings together current Student and Graduate Scholars to learn, network, and create in-country fellowship groups. Participants are provided with travel stipends and are encouraged to raise funds themselves to make this opportunity a reality. Conference attendees participate and lead workshops, panels, team-building exercises, and community service activities.

Collaboration, community and leadership are core to the WMI Scholar’s Journey and it is in that spirit that the first Dream Big Conference took place in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015.

Dream. Plan. Do.

WMI is excited to announce that the Dream Big Conference 2018 will take place in Kampala, Uganda from Wednesday, June 27 – Sunday, July 1, 2018 at the Lweza Training & Conference Centre! One hundred WMI Student Scholars & Graduate Scholars will be in attendance from throughout the world.

Attendance is limited to 100 WMI Scholars. The first 100 qualified registrations received will be given priority for these spots. Once 100 registrations have been received, a waiting list will begin and WMI will update those on the list when a space becomes available.

Please note, the Dream Big Conference series is not a public event. Only current WMI Student Scholars and Graduate Scholars are eligible to apply and attend. No additional applications will be accepted.

Continue reading to learn about important details regarding participation at the Dream Big Conference and prepare to submit your registration form!

Dream Big '18 Registration

It is time to register for Dream Big ’18! Registration is only open for current WMI Student Scholars and Graduate Scholars. If you are not a current WMI Student Scholar or Graduate Scholar in good standing, do not apply.

Step 1: The first step is to complete the WMI Annual Student Scholar Survey/Graduate Scholar Survey in full. Once submitted, you can then register for Dream Big ’18. Only those who complete the online annual survey will have their registration confirmed.

Travel stipends of varying amounts available based upon distance, need and Scholar status (Graduate Scholars will need to apply for a travel stipend and explain need)

Required visa fees sponsored by WMI

Accommodation for four nights in shared rooms (two participants of the same gender per room, single beds for both, common bathrooms in the building) sponsored and assigned by WMI

All meals and conference events sponsored by WMI

Venue Location

Dream Big ’18 will be hosted at the Lweza Training & Conference Centre located in Lweza, an urban settlement along the Kampala-Entebbe Road. Located in between the Entebbe International Airport and the busy city center of Kampala, the property sits off of Kigo Road in a very peaceful neighborhood. The property is owned by the Church of Uganda and hosts numerous domestic and international events. The venue has many meeting rooms, a large presentation hall with a stage, dining facilities to seat up to 100 and lots of green outdoor recreation space. The gated property provides security 24/7.

Room & Meals

Accommodations
All participants will have guaranteed accommodation at the Lweza Training & Conference Centre. Accommodation will be provided for four nights in shared rooms (two participants of the same gender per room, single beds for both) with common bathrooms divided by gender in each building. Room assignments will be made by WMI prior to the conference.

The Lweza Training & Conference Centre is a large property, with many buildings and modest accommodation facilities. The property is equipped with a backup generator. WiFi will only be available in a few common areas. There is no WiFi within the accommodation halls. WMI expects your patience and understanding with the services provided to us throughout the conference.

Meals
All meals throughout the conference will be provided by WMI. Meals will be catered on-site and built into the daily schedule at set mealtimes. The following meals will be provided throughout the conference:

Once your registration has been confirmed, you should begin planning your travel arrangements. If traveling by plane, ticket prices vary considerably throughout the year and you should research when the best time to buy the tickets will be. WMI highly suggests networking with other WMI Scholars within your nation and the region to arrange transportation.

Traveling as a Group
It is suggested for Scholars to travel in groups. If you live in a nation or a region with other Scholars, consider the benefits of planning your trip to Uganda together:

Negotiate a discounted group rate for your transportation needs

Ensure making connections and handling logistics

Security in numbers

Time passes faster when having fun

Start forming bonds and networking before you reach Uganda

Arrival Date & Time
Participants should plan their travel arrangements to arrive between 10am – 4pm at the Lweza Conference & Training Centre on Wednesday, June 27. Keep in mind the travel distance between the city center (bus terminals), the airport and the conference venue when planning your travel, plus traffic.

Departure Date & Time
Participants should plan their travel arrangements to coincide with the closure of the conference and room check-out time. The conference will end at 2pm on Sunday, July 2. Keep in mind the travel distance between the city center (bus terminals), the airport and the conference venue when planning your travel, plus traffic.

Early Arrivals & Extending Your StayIf participants would like to arrive a day or two before the conference or stay an additional night, the Lweza Training & Conference Centre is offering a daily room rate of 60,000 UGX with breakfast for Dream Big ’18 attendees. These personal accommodation arrangements will need to be made directly with the Lweza Training & Conference Centre and paid for by the participant. To arrange for a longer stay, contact: reception@lwezacou.com.

Engage on a Global Stage Amongst Peers

Opportunities to Become Involved
This year WMI has created many opportunities for WMI Scholars to engage as conference leaders, presenters, panelists and organizers. Read the opportunity descriptions below and apply to be a member of a Scholar Panel, lead a workshop, and nominate Keynote Speakers (multiple nominations are accepted).

Applications for all opportunities are due by March 15, 2018. Join us in making Dream Big ’18 the best conference yet. WMI looks to you to be leaders of your conference!

Opportunity 1: Scholar Panels
There are three panels which have been designed to engage Student Scholars, Graduate Scholars and the audience. Panel discussions will enable all attendees to learn, to be exposed to new opportunities, build on the great ideas and experiences jointly shared and DREAM BIG!

WMI believes that our strongest asset and best teachers are WMI Scholars. Everyone can contribute and WMI is seeking your participation.

How will the selection process for panelists be conducted?

WMI is seeking to create diverse panels

Scholars will only be selected for one of the panels (although multiple applications for different panels are accepted)

Panelists selected will have a wide range of experiences and ideas amongst them

Each panel will be balanced by gender

Different nations and a diverse mix of educational/professional backgrounds will be included on each panel

When are panelist applications due? March 15, 2018When will applicants find out if they have been selected? April 15, 2018

Community Service Panel: All WMI Student Scholars are invited to apply to be a part of the Community Service Panel discussion during Dream Big ’18. It is time for your creativity, leadership and organization skills to be shared with other WMI Scholars! We want to learn about your most successful projects, how you measure your impact and most importantly, your experience on working through challenges.

Applicants for this panel should meet the following criteria: Be a Student Scholar, have one main project that they would like to highlight throughout the panel discussion and be excited to share their knowledge.

Business Entrepreneurs & Founders of CBOs/NGOs Panel: All WMI Graduate Scholars are invited to apply to be a part of the Business Entrepreneurs & Founders of CBOs/NGOs Panel discussion during Dream Big ’18. It all starts with an idea and a desire to solve a problem or fulfill a need. What was your first idea? When did you realize that there was an opportunity for you to assist with fulfilling this need or providing a service? How did you grow your idea into a business or a community-based organization/non-governmental organization?

Applicants for this panel should meet the following criteria: Be a Graduate Scholar, have one main business or organization that they will base their responses on throughout the conversation, be able to provide and share data on growth, profits and/or successes, be open to sharing who supported their development and to discuss future next steps.

Leaders of Today Panel: All WMI Student Scholars & Graduate Scholars are invited to apply to be a part of the Leaders of Today Panel discussion during Dream Big ’18. This panel will focus on the belief that anyone can be a leader. We all have the opportunity to achieve leadership roles in clubs, organizations, within our neighborhoods, in government, within our profession and at our place of employment. A leader could be someone who noticed a need and created a new process or introduced a new idea to enhance efficiency. A leader could be someone who participates regularly in a project benefiting others. Let us count on you to motivate your fellow WMI Scholars!

Applicants for this panel should meet the following criteria: Be a Student Scholar or a Graduate Scholar, hold a current leadership role or have created roles for others, have strong beliefs in working hard to achieve goals, and be able to discuss the skills that they believe are most important to succeeding as a leader with team members and also within the community.

Opportunity 2: Workshop Presenters
WMI is interested in recruiting Graduate Scholars as conference workshop presenters at Dream Big ’18! This opportunity has been designed to provide current WMI Graduate Scholars and current WMI Student Scholars who will complete their studies by June 2018 with an international stage to present, empower and teach others.

Workshops will occur during three days of the conference and each session will last 90 minutes. Selected applicants would be expected to present at least once during those three days. Applicants should have advanced knowledge and experience related to their proposed workshop topic.

The following session ideas have been requested by current Student Scholars and Graduate Scholars. You can consider designing a proposal around one of these subjects or propose your own ideas:

Social entrepreneurship

Strategic planning for organizations

Leadership skills

Business plan development

Writing proposals for sponsorship

Project management skills

Networking skills

Marketing/social media

Workshops should be designed with the following participant experience in mind:

When are workshop applications due? March 15, 2018When will applicants find out if they have been selected? April 15, 2018

Applicants for workshops should meet the following criteria: All WMI Graduate Scholars and current Student Scholars who will complete their studies by June 2018 are eligible to apply. Please note that the selection process will be competitive and proposed workshops will need to align with the mission of WMI, goals of the Dream Big ’18 and the needs of your fellow WMI Graduate Scholars and Student Scholars.

Opportunity 3: Nominate a Keynote Speaker
One of the many highlights of Dream Big ’18 is hearing from Keynote Speakers. In Uganda, Tom Wells, Co-founder & President of WMI, will kick off the conference as the first Keynote Speaker.

WMI is seeking two additional exceptional Keynote Speakers, who are leaders within their professions or communities and who have inspiring experiences or have overcome challenges. They should be motivating speakers, willing to share their story, deliver an empowering message and have the desire to connect to us, their audience.

WMI encourages Scholars to recommend and provide contact details for individuals who they think would be an excellent fit as a Keynote Speaker. If you would like to make a recommendation, please complete the nomination form by March 15, 2018.

Opportunity 4:Uganda Planning Committee
Busy working behind the scenes and ready to welcome you to their nation is the Uganda Planning Committee. The planning committee is composed of Fountains For Change – WMI Uganda Fellowship members who are assigned to the following committees:

Welcoming & Logistics

Evening Events & Fellowship Activities

Community Service

Speakers & Facilitators

Venue Search Committee

Their hard work throughout the months leading up to the conference will be evident once participants arrive. Thank you Uganda Planning Committee!

Travel Stipends

Travel stipend funding was created with the purpose of enabling as many WMI Scholars to attend Dream Big Conferences as possible. For Dream Big ’18, WMI will provide travel stipends to all Student Scholars based upon distance traveled and need.

All Student Scholars are encouraged to fundraise to meet the full costs of travelling to the conference and consider accepting a partial travel stipend based upon financial need.

Graduate Scholars are encouraged to fund their travel expenses to attend the event. If this will not be possible, Graduate Scholars will need to apply for travel stipend consideration within the registration form.

Travel Stipend Amounts: Travel stipends are available to all Student Scholars based upon the following distances required to reach Kampala,Uganda:

499 km or less: $25 USD

500-999 km: $75 USD

1000-3999 km: $150 USD

4000+ km: $500 USD

The travel stipend amount has been designed to assist with paying for transportation. The stipend may not cover the full cost and participants will be expected to fundraise or save to make up the difference.

Sending of Travel & Visa Stipends:
Before the release of travel and visa stipends, Scholars must have completed the Student Scholar/Graduate Scholar Annual Scholar Survey and the Dream Big ’18 Registration Form in full. In addition, before the release of travel stipends for air travel, WMI Scholars must provide a copy of their valid passport and the proposed flight reservations.

WMI will start authorizing and sending the following travel and visa stipends to WMI Scholars:

Air travel: February 1 – April 1, 2018
Bus travel: April 1, 2018

Note for WMI Scholars located in Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda: WMI will be sending the majority of travel and visa stipends to one representative of the WMI Fellowship.

Terms of Agreement with Travel & Visa Stipends:
If you receive a travel stipend and/or funds for visa expenses to attend Dream Big ’18 and you do not attend, your travel and visa stipend will be applied toward your next scholarship installment. If you are a Graduate Scholar or a Student Scholar who will not be receiving another scholarship installment and you do not attend the conference, you are required to return the full amount to WMI by August 1, 2018.

If you do not return the full amount by August 1, 2018, you will be terminated from WMI and not eligible for any future WMI programs or benefits.

Dream Big ’18 is a global event supported by many sponsors. Thanks to the generosity of WMI supporters and donors, this conference has been created to enable up to 100 WMI Scholars to have the opportunity to attend. The major expenses of travel, visa fees, conference registration, accommodation, meals and all events taking place at the conference are provided at no cost to WMI Scholars.

There are a few costs that WMI Scholars are responsible for:

Additional funds needed to pay for travel expenses

Passport application or renewal

Yellow Fever vaccination

Optional tourism excursion

Arriving early or staying an extra night at the Lweza Training & Conference Centre

Keep these expenses in mind as you plan for fundraising activities.

Travel Documents

Planning for an international trip requires advance preparation and attention to detail. Participants of Dream Big ’18 will require different documents to enter Uganda. Pay close attention to the details provided regarding passports, government-issued photo IDs, visas and the Yellow Fever vaccination.

Passports & Government-Issued Photo IDs
Travelers entering Uganda will be required to show proof of a valid government-issued photo ID. For some nations in east Africa, citizens can enter Uganda with a government-issued photo ID. All other citizens require a valid passport to enter. Passports should be valid until at least December 31, 2018 (six months after your entry into Uganda). If you do not have a current passport or your passport will expire, you should apply for one as soon as possible. The processing time for issuing a new passport varies by country. The costs associated with applying for a passport is at the participants’ expense.

Tourist Visa
As a guest in another nation, you must have legal permission to enter. WMI Scholars will fall into two categories:

Those needing a visa

Those who are exempt and will not need a visa by Ugandan law

For those who need a visa, you will be applying for a Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa – Single Entry. The cost of this visa is $50 USD and will be sponsored by WMI. These funds will be sent with your travel stipend or solely as a visa stipend.

If your nation is on this list, you do not need a visa to enter Uganda:

Fiji

Gambia

Ghana

Jamaica

Kenya

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Swaziland

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

If your nation was not listed above, you will need a Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa – Single Entry. More information will be provided to those who are required to obtain a Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa – Single Entry at a later date.

All participants will receive a formal Dream Big ’18 invitation letter to support their entrance into the nation.

Yellow Fever Vaccine
A risk of Yellow Fever transmission exists within Uganda and the requirement to show proof of having had the Yellow Fever vaccine may be requested when entering the nation (especially by plane).

For international travel, a Yellow Fever Card/Booklet can be issued at an administering clinic. Proof of your Yellow Fever Card/Booklet may be requested upon entering Uganda. If you do not have this document at the airport, you may be required to pay a high fee to have this vaccine at the arrivals terminal before passing through immigration.

The World Health Organization announced that as of July 11, 2016, existing and new Yellow Fever vaccination certificates are valid for life. Countries can no longer require travellers to show proof of re-vaccination or a booster dose as a condition of entry.

As a guest in another nation, you must have permission to enter. WMI Scholars will fall into two categories:

Those needing a visa

Those who are exempt and will not need a visa by Ugandan law

For those who need a visa, you will be applying for a Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa – Single Entry. The cost of this visa is $50 USD and will be sponsored by WMI. These funds will be sent with your travel stipend or solely as a visa stipend.

*All participants will receive a formal Dream Big ’18 invitation letter to support their entrance into the nation.

WMI Scholars Who DO NOT Need a Visa

If your nation is on this list, you do not need a visa to enter Uganda:

Fiji

Gambia

Ghana

Jamaica

Kenya

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Swaziland

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

WMI Scholars Who DO NEED a Visa

If your nation is on this list, you DO NEED a visa to enter Uganda:

Afganistan

Bangladesh

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Ethiopia

Mexico

Nepal

Nigeria

Senegal

South Africa

South Sudan

Swaziland

Philippines

When Can You Apply for a Visa?
WMI Scholars who need a visa should apply in April. Do not apply for your visa before April. Permission to enter the country/approval letters for a visa are only valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

TIP: Do not apply for your visa before April.

How to Prepare for Applying
Complete this checklist below between now and April. By completing this checklist, you will be ready to apply for your visa in April:

Has your Dream Big 18’ registration been confirmed by Justine?

Have you purchased your ROUND TRIP travel tickets?

Do you have proof of your purchased travel tickets?

Is your passport valid until January 2019?

Do you have proof of having had the Yellow Fever Vaccination?

If you answered yes to all of the questions above, you will be able to apply for your visa starting in April.

Apply for Your Visa: Three Options
Note: You should not apply for your visa until April.

There are three ways to secure your Ordinary/Tourist Visa – Single Entry visa:

1. Apply online through the Uganda E-Immigration System (WMI recommended option)
2. Apply at a Uganda mission abroad (This option is only available to those living in Ethiopia (Embassy of Republic of Uganda | Addis Ababa – Ethiopia), South Africa (Uganda High Commission | Pretoria – South Africa) and South Sudan (Uganda Embassy | Juba – South Sudan))
3. Apply for visa upon arrival (WMI recommends avoiding this option)TIP: WMI recommends that all WMI Scholars apply through the online Uganda E-Immigration System in April.

Option 1: How to Apply on the Uganda E-Immigration System
The online visa application system was designed to speed up the process of issuing visas for Uganda. The application and payment process is completed 100% online.

At the start of April, WMI will provide you with a “How to Navigate the Uganda E-visa Process” guide with screenshots for every step of the process. Please check back in April to review this resource.

Option 2: How to Apply at a Uganda Mission Abroad
For WMI Scholars who plan to apply for their Ordinary/Tourist Visa in their nation (Ethiopia, South Africa & South Sudan), please review the official website of the embassy or high commission and contact these respective offices for more information.

TIP: The required documents to apply for the visa may be different than what is required for the online process. Each mission abroad may have their own process, forms and fees.

Option 3: How to Apply Upon Arrival in Uganda
This is the riskiest option for attempting to enter Uganda. WMI highly recommends that you choose Option 1 or Option 2 to apply for your Uganda Ordinary/Tourist visa. However, if you select this option, please note that you may be denied entry into the country. The documents that may be requested of you by Ugandan immigration authorities include and are not limited to:

Valid Passport: Valid for six months after entry

Reason for Visit: Invitation letter from WMI for the Dream Big Conference

Proof of Funds: Evidence that you have money to support your stay while in Uganda (cash, credit cards, bank statement, etc.)

Return Ticket: A round-trip ticket showing when you plan to leave Uganda

Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination

Visa Fee: $50 USD, this must be paid in USD and in cash.Still Have Questions